|
Granted, it was not a classic performance, nor was it the demolition of a side 35 places below them, but it was enough to see the Shots avoid the potential banana skin and book themselves a first round proper trip to either Canvey Island or Burnham.
Talking to the Aldershot News the boss admitted, “I was very apprehensive going into the game.
“The pressure would have been on if we'd lost today, we were red-hot favourites to win and it's that stage of the cup where you can't afford to lose, I'm more relieved than delighted.
“It didn't really look like they were 35 places below us, but that's what the FA Cup is about, it's about who wants it enough on the day and we wanted it.”
With the Shots' stuttering form, and Bromley on a 10-match unbeaten run, this had Cup upset written all over it. But despite the best efforts of the home side, the Shots held firm to ease through, and in doing so, kept their second clean sheet in a week.
“It's not just pleasing to keep a clean sheet, it's unbelievable! That's two Saturdays on the trot where we've had cleansheets, the back four looked a bit more solid today.
“Bully (goalkeeper Nikki Bull) had two saves to make that were crucial and he always makes them,” added Brown.
A single goal from Tim Sills after just 26 seconds was all it took, as the Shots defended much more stoutly than in previous weeks.
This time the area for concern was at the other end.
After 20 minutes, match-winner Sills turned his ankle and proceeded to hobble about for the remainder of the match, while strike partner Omari Coleman was less than effective in his role.
“Being 1-0 up is an uncomfortable score away in the FA Cup. You can be sitting there and go to lose 2-1 in the last five minutes so you're always aware of that.
“I'm disappointed really that we didn't have enough about us to go on and win it comfortably, we had enough chances today,” Brown added.
Sills' injury, whilst not serious was enough to rule him out of this weekend's trip to basement boys Scarborough, but a second half booking meant that the target man became suspended for the trip with five bookings.
A happy coincidence indeed.
However, the suspension has forced Brown's hand into bringing in another striker, but admits it will take some sweet-talking of the board.
“My job now is to get a forward. It's all right talking about the game but the spectators are about to say to me, ‘it's alright talking about getting a forward in Browny, but go out and get one!'
“I'll have to bend the chairman's ear and the vice-chairman's ear, they all want the club to go on and they know we need a couple of forwards. It's not that easy, as I've proved over the last year, to get another forward in but it's a case of must now,” said Brown.
Saturday's game was less than a minute old when Sills put the Shots ahead, as the supporters were still making their way around the ground the get behind the goal, the visitors took the lead.
From Matt Somner's throw-in, Nick Crittenden delivered the perfect ball into the box picking out Sills who headed firmly home at the far post.
For a couple of minutes the shell-shocked Bromley didn't know what had hit them, and the early goal suggested a rout was on the cards.
But that was not to be as the home side hit back, Allan McLeod's long ball forward picked out Sam Wood, his shot forced Bull into the first of many fine saves of the afternoon as he tipped the ball away.
Nic McDonnell also looked for the equaliser, shrugging off Tobi Jinadu only to shoot weakly for Bull to gather easily before Wood hit the wall from his free-kick in a dangerous position.
The Shots then won a free kick as Sills was challenged, resulting in his ankle injury.
Crittenden stepped up and curled the ball round the wall but Andy Walker in the Bromley goal dived to save the effort.
McDonnell fed the lively Wood as Bromley were relentless in their hunt, with the latter firing over the bar in the closing seconds of the half.
The ineffective Gary Holloway was replaced at half-time struggling with flu, by Ahmed Deen, while Sills continued to play through the pain barrier.
Bromley pressed hard from the outset although Crittenden was able to get a shot off, only to see it roll wide of the upright.
A superb save from Bull denied McDonnell with a glancing header, although the offside flag was already raised.
The Shots went close to making it two, as Walker came out to collect a cross, only to miss the ball completely. Sills flicked on but Coleman couldn't capitalise on an unguarded net as Steve Potterill cleared.
With the Shots now pressing themselves Walker was alert to deny Sills with his legs as the striker burst through, Deen's follow-up was blocked and minutes later Andre Boucaud's effort was cleared by Potterill.
Crittenden's quickly-taken free kick was wasted as Deen's shot was deflected for the keeper to easily gather, before the Shots again had the chance to increase their lead. Ryan Scott and Crittenden, both looking suspiciously offside, burst forward, the latter chose to shoot when perhaps passing to Scott would have been the better option.
The home side piled forward late on to give Brown a nervous final 10 minutes, McLeod weaved his way into the box but Jinadu blocked the shot.
Deen then turned defender to make an excellent block to deny substitute Barry Gardner before yet another fine save from Bull in parrying McDonnell's effort, kept the lead intact.
Then, in injury time, Greg Heald came close to giving the home side the replay they so desperately wanted, his clearance was literally inches wide of the upright in what was a real hearts in mouths moment.
Sills' already punished for a foul on Gardner, was then followed onto the suspensions list by Matt Somner, who picked up his fifth booking of the campaign for time-wasting — one which also rules him out of Scarborough trip.
By then, however, the match was already won as the Shots eased into the next round, picking up the already budgeted-for £10,000.
SHOTS: BULL 8, Barnard 8, Heald 7, Jinadu 7, Somner 7, Crittenden 7, Holloway 5 (sub Deen 45mins, 6), Boucaud 5, Scott 7, Sills 7, Coleman 5. Not used: Weait, Sulaiman, Reed, Hamilton.
Ref: G Scott 6. Att: 1,454.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.